Type-writing machine



(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-Sheet, J. P. MOLAUGHLIN.

vTYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 429,359. Patented June 3, 1890.

fiTTEsT; lNXIENT-UP ens coy, mam-mm msmwrcn n c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE. 1

JAMES F. MCLAUGHLIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TYPE-WRITING MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,359, dated June 3,1890. Application filed November 18, 1887. Serial No. 255,464. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MOLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the'county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inType-Writing Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an electro-magnetic letter-spacing mechanism foran electrical type-writer, whereby the traveling carriageis advanced aletter-space after every impact of a type-letter upon the paper carriedand fed by the paper-roll of said traveling carriage;

and my invention has for its object to provide an improvement upon theletter-spacing devices shown, described, and claimed in Letters PatentNo. 367 ,650, granted to me on the 2d day of August, 1887.

My invention consists in certain details of construction, arrangement,and combination of parts and electrical connections, all of which willbe more fully and accurately described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectionthrough an electrical type-writer embodying my invention, showing partsin elevation and with parts removed. Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly indiagram and partly in plan, showing the arrangement of theletter-spacing circuit, the circuitcontrollers therefor, and thecooperating parts and electrical connections.

Like numerals of reference indicate like or similar parts in the/severalviews of the drawings. 7

Referring to the drawings by numbers, 1 designates the circular base ofthe instrument, made, preferably, of insulating material, and designedto support the several parts of the apparatus.

2 is asupplementary platform supported in an elevated position above thebase 1 by the uprights 3 3, and is centrally reamed out or perforated,the edge of'said circular perforation being provided with a dependingflange, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

Above the platform 2 is arranged the non.- conducting ring 4, providedwith the four laterally-projecting lugs 5 5, to which are secured theupper ends of the supportingstandards 6 6 by the screws 7 7, the saidring serving as a supporting-platform for the series of metallicsegments 8 8, which in turn are rigidly secured upon the upper surfaceof said ring 4 at equal distances apart by the screws 9 9.

The type-levers 1O 10 are fulcru med in the adjustable supports 11 11,which latter are located at equal distances apart in a slottedsupporting-ring 12, and are secured thereto by means of the nuts 13 13,and the said ring 12 is supported upon the supplementary platform 2 bystandards 14 14 or a metallic framework'15. Each type-lever is connectedby a suitable chain 16, or, rather, flexible connection, with the upperend of an elbow shaped armature 17, which is' pivoted above and in closeproximity to an electro-magn'et 18, (see Fig. 1,) there being anelectro-magnet and armature for each type-lever situated upon andinsulated from the platform 2 of the instrument. The armatures 17 aremounted, near the electro-magnets 18, on adjustable supports 19, whichcorrespond in construction to the type-lever supports 11, and projectdownward through suitable apertures around a peripheral flange 20 of theframe-work 15, being secured in place by nuts 21. Each electro-inagnet18 is provided with a converted pole 22 (shown in Fig.1.)

, The circuit-closing key-levers 23one for each electro-magnet 18arepivoted at their rear extremities in an insulated boxing 24, and extendthrough suitable vertical slots in an apron 25, depending from the frame2, and atthe outer ends each lever is provided with a suitablefinger-key, on the face of which is a letter or symbol, the entireseries forming a key-board similar in arrangement'to that of an ordinarytype-writer. Each of the said key-levers is made of metal and is incircuit with an electro-magnet by a conductor 26, (see Fig. 1,) andengages when depressed a contact-point 27, which is secured upon themetallic plate 28, and is in circuit with the main battery 29 by aconductor 30. Each electro-magnet 18 is in circuit with a ring 31, by 'aconductor 31, which in turn is in circuit with a line. (Not shown.)

From the preceding description it will be understood that when akey-lever is depressed the circuit from the main battery 29 isestablished through the wire 30, plate 28, contact 27, key 23, and wire26 to the respective electro-magnet 18, thereby energizing the latterand causing it to attract its armature 17, thus eliecting the impact ofa type-lever againsta traveling paper-roll, (not shown,) and upon thebreak of a circuit caused by the release of the key the magnet istie-energized and the type-lever falls to its normal position.

The ring 31 is secured by perforated insulating-clips 32 to theframe-work 15 of the machine.

33 designates a retractilo spring, (one for each key-leven) having oneextremity attached to the key-lever and its other end suitably securedto some stationary portion of the apparatus, whereby the key-lever isrestored to its normal position when released from pressure.

34: designates a spacing-magnet composed of three coils, which aresupported upon atriangular yoke-piece 35. (See Fig. 2.) One pole of themagnet is in circuit with the series of type-lever supports 11 11 bymeans of the wires 36, and the other pole is in circuit with one pole ofthe battery 37 by wire 38, the other pole of said battery beingelectrically connected with the series of type-lever supports 11 11 bywire 39.

40 indicates the fram e-work supporting the several parts of theelectro-magnetic step-bystep n1otor,-and 4C1 designates the pivotedsupporting-bracket for the triangular-shaped armature 12, which alsocarries the springactuated pawl 43. A coiled retracting-spring (notshown) is attached at one end to the armature 42 and at its other to theframe 10 for the purpose of moving the armature and its attached pawlaway from the poles of the magnet 34 when the latter are ale-energized,the play of said armature being limited by the adjusting-screw 14. It isnot thought necessary to further describe the other parts of thisstep-by-step motor, since it will be readily understood that theattraction of the armature 12 serves as an actuating means for advancinga traveling carriage (not shown) one letter-space.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that eachtype-lever support 11 is insulated from the ring 12, and that the saidtype-lever supports are electrically connected in pairs by the metalstrip 45; but it will be also observed that the respective type-leversof every pair of the electrically-connected supports 11 are each upon adifferent se ment 8. Thus it will be seen that the strips 45 andsegments 8 serve as bridge-pieces between the alternate ends of thetype-levers,

and the circuitfrom the battery 37 is 1101- mally closed through wire 39to one of the type-lever supports 11, then through each segment 8 andpair of type-levers 1O 10 in series, thence by wire 36. magnet 34, andwire 38 to the battery. Consequently should any one type-lever 10 beraised from contact with its segment 8 by the movement of itsactuatingarmature 17 the circuit through the spacingmagnet will bebroken.

lhe operation of my invention is as follows: By the depression of anykey-lever 23 23 (shown in Fig. 1) the circuit is closed through therespective electro-magn et 18, energizing the same, and causing theattraction of its armature,which movement effects the impact of thetype-lever on the paper. (Not shown.) Now, the inst-ant the type-lever10 is raised from contact with its segment 8 by the pull exerted uponthe chain 16, the closed local circuit from the battery 37 (see Fig. 2)is broken, thereby de-energizing the spacingmagnet 3t and releasing itsarmature, which is withdrawn by its retractile spring. When thetype-lever again falls into contact with the segment 8, the circuit isclosed and the magnet 34 attracts its armature, thereby effecting theoperation of the step-by-step motor to advance the carriage. Thus itwill be understood that the spacer mechanism is controlled by themovement of the type-levers, and operates subsequent to the impact ofthe said type-lever on the paper.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In an electrical type-writer, the combination of aseries of type-levers and a series of metallic segments insulated fromeach other, and each supporting two type-levers in their normal positionof rest, with a spacing electro-magnet in a charged electric circuit,including the type-levers and segments in series, whereby thespacing-magnet circuit is opened when a letter is being printed and isagain closed when the type-lever returns to its normal position of rest,substantially as described.

2. In an electrical type-writer, the combination of a series ofelectrically-controlled type-levers and a series of metallic segmentsinsulated from each other, and each supporting two type-levers in theirnormal position of rest, with a spacing electro-magnet in a chargedelectric circuit, including the type levers and segments in series,whereby the spacing-magnet circuit is opened when a letter is beingprinted and is again closed when the type-lever returns to its normalposition of rest, substantially as described.

3. In an electrical type-writer, the combination of a series ofelectrically-actuated typelevers, key-levers controlling the same, and aseries of metallic segments insulated from each other, and eachsupporting two type-levers in their normal position of rest, with aspacing electro-magnet in a charged electric circuit, including thetype-levers and segvments in series, whereby the spacing-magnet Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

J. F. MOLAUGHLIN. Witnesses:

THOS. J. HUNT, GEO. H. TIOI-IENOR.

